summary
Introduced
01/20/2015
01/20/2015
In Committee
07/21/2016
07/21/2016
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
07/31/2016
07/31/2016
Introduced Session
189th General Court
Bill Summary
Relative to the modernization of optometric patient care. Public Health.
AI Summary
This bill aims to modernize optometric patient care by expanding the scope of practice for optometrists, allowing them to diagnose, prevent, manage, and treat ocular diseases, including glaucoma, by utilizing and prescribing certain topical and oral therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, as well as agents for the percutaneous treatment of anaphylaxis, while clarifying limitations on treating systemic diseases, invasive surgery, and certain types of injections. It also establishes a new examination and certification process for optometrists to ensure their qualifications in prescribing these medications, requires optometrists to refer patients for surgical treatment of glaucoma or previously unevaluated diseases outside their scope, and mandates participation in patient safety data collection efforts coordinated by the Betsy Lehman Center for Patient Safety and Medical Error Reduction. The bill also makes conforming changes to existing laws, specifically chapter 94C of the General Laws concerning controlled substances, and chapter 112 of the General Laws, which governs the practice of optometry and establishes sections related to optometrists' ability to prescribe and utilize therapeutic pharmaceutical agents, including the creation of a new section, 66C, detailing these expanded capabilities and requirements.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services
Sponsors (92)
Pat Haddad (D)*,
Jim Arciero (D),
Bruce Ayers (D),
Ruth Balser (D),
Jennifer Benson (D),
Donnie Berthiaume (R),
Michael Brady (D),
Paul Brodeur (D),
Tony Cabral (D),
Thomas Calter (D),
James Cantwell (D),
Gailanne Cariddi (D),
Tackey Chan (D),
Sonia Chang-Díaz (D),
Edward Coppinger (D),
Claire Cronin (D),
Mark Cusack (D),
Angelo D'Emilia (R),
Marcos Devers (D),
Sal DiDomenico (D),
Stephen DiNatale (D),
Diana Dizoglio (D),
Paul Donato (D),
Michelle DuBois (D),
James Dwyer (D),
Carolyn Dykema (D),
Lori Ehrlich (D),
Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D),
Kim Ferguson (R),
John Fernandes (D),
Ann-Margaret Ferrante (D),
Michael Finn (D),
Gloria Fox (D),
Sean Garballey (D),
Colleen Garry (D),
Susan Gifford (R),
Anne Gobi (D),
Thomas Golden (D),
Danielle Gregoire (D),
Bradford Hill (R),
Brad Jones (R),
Jay Kaufman (D),
Mary Keefe (D),
Kay Khan (D),
Robert Koczera (D),
Kevin Kuros (R),
Barbara L'Italien (D),
David Linsky (D),
Marc Lombardo (R),
James Lyons (R),
Timothy Madden (D),
John Mahoney (D),
Brian Mannal (D),
Paul Mark (D),
Joe McGonagle (D),
Paul McMurtry (D),
James Miceli (D),
Leonard Mirra (R),
Mike Moore (D),
James Murphy (D),
David Nangle (D),
Harold Naughton (D),
Jim O'Day (D),
Keiko Orrall (R),
Jerry Parisella (D),
Sarah Peake (D),
Thomas Petrolati (D),
Smitty Pignatelli (D),
Angelo Puppolo (D),
Dave Rogers (D),
John Rogers (D),
Dennis Rosa (D),
Jeff Roy (D),
Byron Rushing (D),
Danny Ryan (D),
Jeffrey Sánchez (D),
Tom Sannicandro (D),
Paul Schmid (D),
John Scibak (D),
Frank Smizik (D),
Todd Smola (R),
Tom Stanley (D),
Ellen Story (D),
Benjamin Swan (D),
Walter Timilty (D),
Timothy Toomey (D),
José Tosado (D),
Aaron Vega (D),
Dave Vieira (R),
Joseph Wagner (D),
Chris Walsh (D),
Donald Wong (R),
Last Action
Senate concurred (on 07/23/2016)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H1973 |
| Bill | https://malegislature.gov/Bills/189/H1973.pdf |
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